System and method for treatment of tooth decay, infection or abscess and apparatus related thereto

Abstract

Disclosed is a bite blocker device for preventing occlusion of an affected dentition. The channel of the bite block follows and engages a portion of the user's upper teeth, while a base portion, opposite the channel portion, follows and engages a portion of the user's lower teeth. The base portion and the channel are separated forming a gap between the user's upper teeth and lower teeth. The bite block is placed substantially opposite the affected tooth or teeth, the gap formed by the bite block preventing occlusion of the affected teeth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a patient having an infected, diseased or damaged tooth, comprising:
 selecting a predetermined volume of deformable thermoplastic material for use as a customizable oral device for inserting in the mouth of the patient;   placing the predetermined volume of deformable thermoplastic material in a predetermined volume of heated water for a first known period of time, said first known period of time sufficient to allow the deformable thermoplastic material to reach deformable plasticity;   removing the deformable thermoplastic material from the predetermined volume of heated water once the deformable thermoplastic material reaches a deformable state;   cooling the deformable thermoplastic material for a second known period of time;   installing the deformable thermoplastic material in the mouth of the patient once it has cooled beyond the second known period of time;   wherein, once the deformable thermoplastic material has been installed in the mouth of the patient for a predetermined period of time, the deformable thermoplastic material becomes plastically rigid about one or more teeth of the patient such that the deformable thermoplastic material comprises:
 a channel, the channel configured to follow and engage at least a first portion of the patient's teeth; 
 a base portion opposite the channel, the base portion configured to follow and engage at least a second portion of the patient's teeth opposite the first portion of the patient's teeth, wherein the base portion is separated from the channel by a gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth; 
 at least two walls extending from opposite lateral sides of the channel and in contact with at least a portion of the patient's gums; and 
   wherein the deformable thermoplastic material, once placed in the mouth of the patient, substantially surrounds the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and prevents contact with the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth with the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth by a distance no less than the gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the steps of  claim 1  are repeated for preparing a second deformable thermoplastic material for placement on the opposite side of the patient's mouth as the at least a first portion and at least a second portion of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying an adhesive material to the inner channel of the deformable thermoplastic material prior to the step of installing the deformable thermoplastic material in the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of holding the deformable thermoplastic material in the desired place in the mouth of the patient to assure the deformable thermoplastic material does not move within the mouth of the patient during the cooling step. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth is at least 4 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined volume of heated water is heated to a temperature of no less than the boiling point of water, and the first known period of time is at least five minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable thermoplastic material is comprised of at least a polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cooled deformable thermoplastic material comprises a lower surface contoured to match the surfaces of the at least a second portion of teeth of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth is in the range of about 4 mm to about 7 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable thermoplastic material is formed by the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable thermoplastic material is formed by a medical or dental professional or assistant. 
     
     
         12 . A single piece thermoplastic material formed by the method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a channel, the channel configured to follow and engage at least a first portion of the patient's teeth;   a base portion opposite the channel, the base portion configured to follow and engage at least a second portion of the patient's teeth opposite the first portion of the patient's teeth, wherein the base portion is separated from the channel by a gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth;   at least two walls extending from opposite lateral sides of the channel and in contact with at least a portion of the patient's gums;   wherein the deformable thermoplastic material is comprised of at least a polypropylene;   wherein the deformable thermoplastic material, following the cooling step, comprises a lower surface contoured to match the surfaces of the at least a second portion of teeth of the patient;   wherein the gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth is at least 4 mm;   wherein the deformable thermoplastic material, once placed in the mouth of the patient, substantially surrounds the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and prevents contact with the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth with the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth by a distance no less than the gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth.   
     
     
         13 . The single piece thermoplastic material of  claim 12 , wherein the material engages no greater than % of the first portion of the patient's teeth and the second portion of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         14 . The single piece thermoplastic material of  claim 12 , wherein the gap between the at least a first portion of the patient's teeth and the at least a second portion of the patient's teeth is in the range of 5-7 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The deformable thermoplastic material of  claim 12 , wherein the material comprises at least a first non-thermoplastic material and a second thermoplastic material, the second thermoplastic material located adjacent the first portion of the patient's teeth and the second portion of the patient's teeth when installed in the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         16 . The deformable thermoplastic material of  claim 12 , wherein the deformable thermoplastic material is formed by the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The deformable thermoplastic material of  claim 12 , wherein the deformable thermoplastic material is formed by a dental technician or dental assistant. 
     
     
         18 . The deformable thermoplastic material of  claim 12 , wherein an adhesive material is applied, immediately prior to the installation step, to the inner channel of the deformable thermoplastic material.